blog post Chet Hewitt Named Chair of PPIC Board; New Member Sandra Celedon Joins Board By Mark Baldassare Sep 7, 2022 We are very pleased to announce that Chet Hewitt, president and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation, is the new chair of PPIC’s Board of Directors and that Sandra Celedon, president and CEO of Fresno Building Healthy Communities, has joined the board.
Report Storing Water for the Environment By Sarah Null, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Kristen Dybala ... Aug 22, 2022 Large reservoirs are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate—but over the years, the construction and operation of these reservoirs have had significant environmental costs. Our new research outlines how reservoir operations could be changed to improve the health of the state’s fragile freshwater ecosystems.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Storing Water for the Environment By Sarah Null, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Kristen Dybala ... Aug 22, 2022 To protect and restore California’s freshwater ecosystems and respond to the changing climate, California’s water managers must change how they operate reservoirs. Our policy brief offers recommendations for how to do this in a way that makes the most efficient use of scarce water for the environment while minimizing impacts on other water uses.
blog post After COVID, Community Colleges Must Focus on Improving Online Courses By Daniel Payares-Montoya Aug 17, 2022 As California continues to rebound from the pandemic, enrollment in community colleges’ online courses remains higher than in face-to-face courses. What are the keys to ensuring high-quality online instruction?
blog post Commentary: Drought Requires New Strategies for Managing Cropland By Andrew Ayres, Caitlin Peterson Aug 9, 2022 With careful planning, research and development, and incentive programs, the San Joaquin Valley can avoid the worst consequences of land fallowing — and perhaps even create environmental and economic benefits.
event Farmland in Transition: The San Joaquin Valley Jul 26, 2022 As the San Joaquin Valley works to bring its groundwater basins into balance, hundreds of thousands of acres of irrigated farmland may come out of production. How do we manage all this newly fallowed land? Our latest research examines whether water-limited agriculture might help ease the transition—and what other management practices could mitigate dust and air quality concerns in the valley.
Report Land Transitions and Dust in the San Joaquin Valley By Andrew Ayres, Jaymin Kwon, Joy Collins Jul 20, 2022 Agricultural operations and wind erosion are two of the largest sources of dust in the San Joaquin Valley, and the valley’s air quality may decline with increased farmland fallowing and a warmer, drier climate. This will impact low-income, rural communities first and foremost, but proactive management can help identify high-risk areas and direct funding to cost-effective interventions.
Report Exploring the Potential for Water-Limited Agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley By Caitlin Peterson, Cameron Pittelkow, Mark Lundy Jul 20, 2022 As irrigated farmland comes out of production in the San Joaquin Valley, valley residents will face increased pests, weeds, and dust—as well as a loss of employment and economic activity. Water-limited cropping is one alternative to fallowing that can improve soil health and air quality, create habitat, and keep land in production.
blog post Our Experts Weigh In on the Drought By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount, Alvar Escriva-Bou, Sarah Bardeen Jul 19, 2022 The water news in California has been grim: We’re in year three of a miserable drought—and “miserable” is the operative word. Our experts discuss how the drought is evolving, how the state is responding, and what might be coming next.
blog post Protecting Yourself from the Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke By Sarah Bardeen Jul 11, 2022 Wildfire smoke has become a fact of life in California. Wondering about wildfire smoke’s health impacts, and how we can best protect ourselves from harm? We interview an expert to learn more.